LaSalle neighbors need a little help

March 21, 2006|GAENEY R. PELLOW

Some 30 years ago I decided to buy a house here in South Bend. I looked at both urban and suburban properties. I finally settled on a small two-bedroom, all-on-one-floor cottage on this city's near west side. Many things prompted my decision: 1) A nearby drugstore and pharmacy where the employees were always courteous, helpful and pleasant. 2) A mom and pop grocery and market whose fresh meat was always the best. 3) A nearby branch post office. 4) My church, within walking distance -- then and now in my old age. 5) And best of all, a branch library only a few blocks away! Sadly, much of this is no longer true. The drugstore and market are gone. The branch post office is still there but the neighborhood is no longer conducive to a walk to the post office. The church is still there and active and hopefully can become something of an anchor to the whole area. Time will tell. It is a changed and changing neighborhood. Some years ago the LaSalle Branch Library was moved to a new building at LaSalle Square, but still a comfortable walk, especially in good weather. To say I was devastated a few weeks ago when I read in the local paper that the LaSalle Branch Library may be closed and moved, is a sad understatement. Apparently, one reason for the move is "declining circulation.'' That seems strange to me. Any time I go to the library (and that is frequently) there are children at the computers and going through the bookshelves. There are adults at the other computers, all very busy. There are people reading newspapers -- The Tribune, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, the Sun-Times and The Wall Street Journal. There are always mothers and grandmothers (and now and then a dad) returning stacks of books and movies. An hour later the same group is leaving with a new "stash'' of library goodies. Granted, many businesses that were there are gone. But Kroger has been replaced by the Faith Apostolic Temple. Not only has it become a worship space, there is also a day-care center and other activities associated with that church in other parts of the square. The abandoned Target store is now the St. Vincent de Paul headquarters for the entire city and perhaps for St. Joseph County. I am going to be so bold as to suggest that instead of everyone fleeing South Bend's west side, a concerted effort could (and perhaps should) be made to make the area more attractive to families and business places. With a little help and attention from the mayor, the police department, Code Enforcement and the Common Council, the area between Portage Avenue west to Bendix Drive, and from Western Avenue north to Highland Cemetery, could become an area of which all of South Bend, and residents in that area could be justifiably proud. How I'd love to see that happen! But failing that, please don't take away the LaSalle Branch Library! Gaeney R. Pellow lives in South Bend.